Braiding machine



April 13, 1937.

A' w.w. BARDsLEY BRAIDING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 13, 1937.

w. vw. BARDSLEY BRAIDING MACHINE 'Filed July 5, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 k/Zi'flze .5:

Patented Apr. 13, 1937 anni BRAIDING MACHINE Willard W. Bardsley, ProvidencaR. I., assigner to Wardwell Braiding Machine Company, Central Falls, R. I., a corporation of Maine Appiicanon July 5, 1935, serial No. 29,803

7 Claims.

This invention relates to braiding machines and particularly to braiders of the so-called flat type wherein two sets of yarn supplies are traveled in opposite directions about a common 5 axis with the strands leading therefrom to a central braiding point where they are enmeshed in a tubular or like fabric. n

One object of the invention is to provide a braiding machine of the type indicated having means for establishing the braiding point in proper relation to the direction of feed of the yarns to prevent the braiding strands from riding upward in the direction of feed of the braided material.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the braiding point from becoming so located with respect to the supplies of yarn as to prevent the strands from one set of supplies from being passed under or around the supplies of the other set.

Another object of the invention is to provide controlling means for maintaining the braiding angle of the strands substantially constant to produce a more uniform braid.

,5 Another object of the invention is to provide means for manipulating the braiding strands at intervals during their passage into the fabric to avoid chaiing the yarns and also to prevent knots or other enlargements in the yarns from catching and dragging at the crossing points of the strands.

Another object of the invention is to provide strand-controlling means of the type specified particularly for use in braiding machines wherein the supply packages revolve in orbits at substantially the same level and the strands lead to the braid at substantially right-angles to the direction of feed of the fabric.

Another object i the invention is to provide an improved vibratory manipulating means for the strands to clear them where they cross and means operated from the basic machine to actuate said manipulating means at a location above the braiding mechanism.

Further objects of the invention are set forth 5 in the following specification which describes a certain type of braiding machine embodying the present device or apparatus.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a braiding machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the strand-manipulating device shown partly in sec- 55 tion on its vertical axis.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the strandmanipulator elements in a diffe-rent position from that illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the strandmanipulator showing the relationship y of the crossing strands thereto as they lead to the braid;

Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the crossings` of the strands as advanced toward the braiding point; and

Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the crossings of the strands in a still further advanced position with respect to the axis of the manipulator.

The invention is herein shown as applied to a high-Speed braiding machine oi circular type wherein the supplies of yarn are revolved in concentric orbits and the strands-from one set of supplies controlled to pass them over and under the supplies of the other set to perform the braiding operation.. In machines of this type kthe yarn supplies are sometimes arranged in two sets or groups with the supply bobbins, cops or packages of one set disposed with their axes directed toward the braiding point and the bobbins or supplies of the other set arranged in a circle therebelow; means being provided for revolving the two sets of supplies in opposite directions and manipulating the strands from the lower set of supplies to cause them to pass over and under the upper supplies. In the machine `as herein shown, however, the two sets of supply bobbins, cops or packages are arranged in inner and outer series with the yarn packages of the inner set' disposed with their axes inY ahorizontal plane while the bobbins or yarn packages of the outer set of supplies have their axes vertically disposed. This latter disposition of the yarn supplies is not essential to secure the benefits of the present invention, although the invention is especially adapted for machines of the flat type wherein the yarn supplies are grouped in inner and outer sets and the strands therefrom lead to the braiding fabric in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of feed of the braid.

Referring first to Fig. l of the drawings, the braiding machineas herein shown comprises a base 2, which may be supported on a frame or rest upon a bench or table, and a plurality of generally circular heads or turrets l and 5 mounted on the base to rotate in opposite directions about the axis of the machine. The base 2 is of substantially bowl shape with its inner cavity 3 providing an oil-reservoir for the gearing and other moving parts. Rising from the center of the iloor of the base 2 is a hollow standard 6 of inverted funnel-shape which serves as a stationannular portion 25.

ary mounting for an upper tubular post 'I which supports a central thrust-bearing for one of the rotating heads of the machine. The tubular post I hasa circumferential flange 8 at its lower end secured to the upper rim of the standard 6 by means of screws 9. The upper end of the post 'I is closed by a dome-shaped cap or closure I il formed with a central opening I6 and having a lreduced portion fitted within the bore of the post.

Mounted on the outer circumferential rim I I of the base 2 is a Xed bearing-race I2 formed with a concaved groove I3 for receiving suitable balls I4 which support the outer turret or head 4 of the machine. The outer head 4, sometimes referred to as the track-plate, is substantially dishshaped in cross-section comprising a flat annular bottom portion I5, from which rises a flaring bowl-like wall 20. To the under side of the annulus I5 of the head 4 is fastened a ball-race 2l disposed opposite to and of the same form as the lower fixed face I2, previously referred to. The balls I4 roll in the opposite races to provide a friction-reducing bearing for the head 4 supported therefrom. Fast on the upper side of the at annulus I5 of the head 4 is a third ball-race 22 for receiving the balls 23 of a bearing for supporting the inner turret or head 5. The balls 23 revolve in an upper race 24 fastened to the under side of a flat annular wall 25 of the head 5.

The inner head 5 is also substantially dishshaped as comprising a central flat annular portion 26 with an inclined wall rising therefrom and merging into the previously-mentioned flat From the annulus 25 the `flaring wall rises again in substantially parallel relation to the dished wall 20 of the outer head 4.

The outer turret or head 4 carries the yarn bobbins or supplies S of the outer set to revolve them in a circular orbit concentric with the axis of the machine. It also carries a circular track or guideway around which the carriers for the other inner set of supplies S are traveled in the opposite direction about the axis of the machine. The outer supplies S, shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, are represented as cylindrical cross-wound packages of well known type, but they may be of any other form. The yarn packages are wound on axial cores or tubes t and carried by supply-holders, indicated generally at 37, which are rotatably mounted on spindles 3! supported from brackets 32 overhanging the rim of the outer head 4. As herein shown the brackets 32 are of substantially L-shaped with vertical arms 33 arched at the top and provided with feet 34 seated on and secured to the upper face of the track 30 on the head 4 by suitable means such as the screws 35. Suitable means such as ratchetpawls or friction brakes are provided for engagement with brake-disks 36 on the supplyholders 31 to control the rotation of the packages S to pay off the strands y of yarn therefrom; such devices being well known to those versed in the art and therefore not herein shown or described in detail. At one side of the brackets 32 are standards 38 provided with guide-eyes 39 through which the strands y pass after drawing through the tension-devices, not herein shown.

'Ihe inner bobbins or supply-packages S are mounted on shuttle-like carriers 46 which slide on the track or guideway 30. For this purpose the ltrack 30 may be formed with a V-shaped groove 4I which is provided with a slot or keyway 42 on its under side. The carriers 40 are of generally lenticular contour or boat-shaped, in accordance with the usual practice, to adapt the strands y to slide along their edges either over or under the supply-packages S carried thereon. Each carrier 40 has a tapered keel or runner 43 fitted to slide in the groove 4I of the track 36 and provided with a spline or feather 44 for engaging the slet 42 therein to retain the carrier in place. The track or guideway 33 is of annular or circular shape and substantially continuous around the machine, being divided into sections with radial slits 49 between the sections which are shown in Fig. las the portions without cross-hatching. ln other words, vertically-extending slits are provided at intervals of the circumference of the track 35 wherein the strands of yarn may play up and down as they pass under or over the carriers 46 and the supply-packages S carried thereby.

The inner supply-packages S are mounted on supply-holders of the same type as those for the outer supplies, being indicated generally at 45 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The holders 45 are rotatable on horizontal spindles 46 and carry brake-disks 4I engaged by pawls or the like operated from suitable tension devices not herein shown. After passingr through the tension devices the yarns draw through guide-eyes 48 and lead therefrom directly to the braiding point in a substantially horizontal plane.

The yarns y from the outer supply packages S are manipulated to pass them alternately over and under the lcarriers 46, either singly or in pairs in accordance with the pattern of the braid desired, by means of stationary deflectors 5I) of the type shown and described in U. S. Letters Patent to Miller No. 1,602,442, dated October 12, 1926. The deflectors 50 are herein illustrated as consisting of standards or brackets supported from the base 2 of the machine and having suitable cross-arms 5I at the top along which the strands slide to deflect them above the pointed ends of the carriers 40 so as to cause them to ride along the curved edges thereof above the inner supply packages S. Normally,

' the strands y from the outer supplies S move in a course which causes them to engage under the points of the carriers l0 so that they will pass under the inner supplies S' at points where deflectors are not provided. In this way the strands y from the outer supplies S are caused to pass over and under the inner supplies S to enmesh them with the strands y to form the braided fabric indicated at B.

The shuttles or carriers 46 for the inner supplies S' are propelled around the track 30 by means of driver-bars 52 which are slidably mounted in radial slots 53 in the outer rim of the inner turret or head 5. The driver-bars 52 are arranged in pairs and held in place in the slots 53 by the inclined wall 54 of a cover-plate 55 extending horizontally across the central part of the machine. As herein shown the coverplate 55 is connected rotatively with the head 5 by means of studs 56 mounted in bosses 5l on the Yhead with their tapered ends engaging in the bores of bosses 58 on the under side of the i cover-plate. Each carrier 40 has a pair of slots indicated at 59 with which the ends of a pair of driver-bars 52 engage, the bars of each pair being reciprocated in their slots 53 as the carriers travel around the machine in such manner as to disengage first one and then the other from the carrier to prevent interference with the strand as it draws under the carrier.

The driver-bars 52 are reciprocated by means of a cam 60 having an undulatory groove 6i engaging with rollers 62 journaled on pins 63 projecting from the under side of the bars. The cam 50 is of saucer-shape in conformation with the inclined wall of the outer head 4, to which it is attached by suitable means such as screws 54. It will be understood that as the carriers are propelled around the track 30 by the rotation of the inner head 5 carrying the driver-bars 52, the cam is rotated in the oplOposite direction with the head 4 to cause the cam-groove 6| to oscillate the driver-bars 52 to alternately engage them with and disengage them from the carriers as the strands y pass thereunder.V l5 The two turrets or heads 4 and 5 are rotatively vdriven by means of suitable gearing connected to a drive-shaft E5. The drive-shaft is journaled in suitable bearings` 66 formed integral with or attached to the base 2 of the machine 20 as herein shown. The shaft 65 may be driven from a pulley 6l connected thereto by a clutch 08 operated from suitable starting and stopping mechanism not herein shown and described. On ythe inner end of the drive-shaft 65 is a bevel 25 gear 'I0 having its teeth in mesh with a ringgear H which is riveted or otherwise secured to a depending flange 12 on the annular portion I5 of the outer turret or head 4. A similar ring-gear i3 is riveted or otherwisesuitably at- 33 tached to the rim of an annular ange or skirt 'I4 secured to the lower flat annular portion 26 of the inner head 5 at 60. It will .thus be observed that as the gear 10 is rotated with the drive-shaft 65 it will transmit motion through the ring-gears 1| and 'I3 to rotate the heads 4 and 5 in opposite directions. The upward thrust of the geared drive is taken by a thrust Ybea-ring .l5 which has a hub 16 surrounding the central post 'l with feet 'il resting against the upper i0 face of the flat annular portion 26 of the head 5. The thrust bearing 15 is held in place by `means of an adjustable collar 18 screwed onto a threaded portion ofthe post 1 and formed with a split portion having a screw 'i9 extendi5 ing therethrough to bind it on the threads to lock it in position.

The mechanism of the braiding machine so far described is similar in general to other machines of the same type and the strand-con- C'J trolling device of the present invention is applied thereto in the manner as next explained. At the opposite side of the axis of the machine from the drive-shaft 65 the base 2 is formed with an opening for receiving a bearing member v5 8| similar to the bearing 65 for the drive-shaft. The bearing member 8| is flanged to fit within the opening 80 in the base 2 and has a downwardly-extending portion abutting the side of the base with a tubular portion 83 projecting hori- GO zontally outward therefrom. Journaled in end bearings in the member 8| is a shaft 85 extending coaxially with the drive-shaft 65. At the inner end of the shaft 85 is a bevel pinion 86 meshing with the ring-gears 1| and 'I3 on the 65 heads 4 and 5 to cause it to be driven therefrom. At the outer end of the shaft 85 is a smaller beveled gear 81 which meshes with a similar gear 08 fast on a Vertical shaft 90. The vertical shaft is supported in a bearing 9| T0 formed as a part of an upright bracket or standard 92 having a ring-like split hub-portion 96 surrounding the outer end of the bearing-member 8| and clamped thereto by means of a binder-screw indicated at 93. The lower end of the bracket or standard 92 is shaped to form a housing for the gears 81 and 88,`a cover 94 being" fastened thereto by screws 95 to provide a co-mplete enclosure for the gears. The upper end of the shaft 90 is journaled in a bearing 98 fitting the bore of a split hub-portion 99 of the standard 92 and clamped therein in the same manner as the lower hub 96 of the standard is clamped to the bearing member 8|. Connected to the bearing 98 by a web |0| is a bearing |00 formed as partof a horizontal arm or strut |03. The arm |03 is formed with a split hub |04 at its end which Vis clamped around a bearing |05 carrying a shell or housing I0 for the parts of the strandmanipulator to be later described.

Journaled in the bearings |00 and |05 is a horizontal drive-shaft |00 for actuating the strand-controlling device.l 'f The shaft |06 is driven from' the verticalv shaft 90 by means of a pair of intermeshinglbevel gears |0'| and |08 which are enclosed in the housing formed by the Web-v |0| connecting the standard 92 and arm |03; a cover |09 being fitted thereto. It will l be observed that as the heads 4 and 5 of the machine are driven from the drive-shaft E5 the rauxiliary shaft 85 will be rotated by the gear 86 to drive the vertical shaft 90 and vthereby the horizontal drive-shaft |06 forthe strand-manipulating device. l f

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the strand-manipulator comprises a plurality of annular elements arranged above and ccaxially of the braiding mechanism to adapt the fabric to pass therethrough as it is braided from the strands y and y delivering from the revolving supply packages S and S. A The presentmachine may be employed for braiding a tubular fabric without an inner core or it may be used for coveringl a core, for example, wire or other forms of electrical conductors. In the present drawings the machine is illustrated as operating to fr:

braid .a fabric covering around a core C fed axially through the machine by suitable means not herein shown. The core C is delivered `from a reel or other supply-holder disposed beneath the may chine and drawn up through the base 2 and hollow post to feed through the opening I6 in the dome l0. The core C may be fed through the machineby means of the usual take-up device consisting of a rotating capstan or grooved wheel arranged above; these parts not being herein shown or described as they may be of any usual arrangement.

Surmounting the dome l0 at the axial center of the braiding machine is the cylindrical casing or shell H0, previously mentioned as car- I `ried by the bearing |05 supported atthe inner end of the horizontal arm or strut |03. At the upper end of the shell ||0 is a split hub in the bore of which is mounted a tubular quill ||2 forming a channel or passage through which the braided material feeds. The quill or tube ||2 is adjustable vertically in the hub and adapted to be secured in its adjusted position by tightening a binder screw H4, shown by dotted lines izontal plane of the axes of the inner supply-y packages S to provide a locating annulus for the strands to pass through whereby to direct them to the braiding fabric at adenite angle with respect to the direction of feed of the strands. The

inner quill or tube H2 projects partly through the locating ring or annulus ||5 with its lower rim positioned slightly raised above the lower rim of the annulus and spaced inwardly therefrom. The strands y and y leading respectively from the outer and inner supply packages S and S draw across the lower rim of the annulus I I5 and thence upwardly across the rim of the quill H2, whence they pass into the braid in crossed relationship; it having been previously noted that the quill H2 is vertically adjustable in its supporting hub to regulate the relation of its lower rim to the rim of the annulus H5.

Slidably mounted on the periphery of the tube or quill H2 is a third vannular member or sleeve I I 8 which is adapted to oscillate in the space between the exterior of the quill and the interior of the annulus H5. Reciprocating motion is imparted to the sleeve I I 8 during the continuous rotation of the shaft |06 through the means of an eccentric connection therebetween. As shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3, the shaft |06 carries an eccentricdisk |20 secured fast to its end. Surrounding the eccentric-disk |20 is a strap |2| carrying alink or pitman |22 connected to a pin I23 projecting from the upper end of the sleeve H8. As the shaft |06 is lrotated the eccentrically-operated pitman |22 actuates the sleeve I I8 with a vertical reciprocatory motion to alternately raise and lower its lower rim with respect to the rims of the fixed inner quill H2 and' outer ring or annulus I I 5. The purpose of this reciprocatory motion of the sliding sleeve H8 is set forth in connection with the, following explanation `of the method of operation of the complete machine.

The braiding machine may be adapted for braiding any suitable number of strands in accordance with the character of fabric to be produced. To prepare the machine for operation a suitable number of supply packages S and S are placed on the outer and inner supply-holders 3l and 45, respectively, with the strands y and y passing through the tension devices and the guidesS and 48. When a core is to be covered, such as the wire indicated at C in Fig. 1, it is drawn up through the center of the machine and attached to the capstan, not shown, to be fed thereby through'the machine during the braiding operation. The ends of the strands y and y are drawn toward the axis of the machine and attached to the wire or the cord C by winding them therearound.

Power is applied to operate the machine by means of a belt passed over the pulley 6l and connected with a suitable source of power such as an electric motor. To start the machine the pulley 5l is shifted into connection with the clutch 68 to effect rotation of the drive-shaftV 65. The gear Eil on the shaft is thereby caused to drive the ring gears "II and I3 to rotate the heads 4 and 5 in opposite directions. The two opposite sets of supply-carriers S and S will thus be revolved about the machine in opposite directions, the outer set of supplies being carried directly on the outer head 4 while the inner supplies S are carried on' the carriers 40 sliding in the groove 4| of the circular track 30 which is divided into sections as previously explained. The carriers l0 are slid on the track 30 by the engagement of the driverbars 52 therewith, the bars being carried by the inner head 5 and reciprocated in the grooves 53 through their connection with the cam 5G. As the supplies S revolve in the outer orbit the strands y leading from the guides 39 are normally caused to pass under the pointed ends of the carriers 40 to slide along the lenticular edges on the under side thereof. As the strands slide under the carriers 40, rst one and then the other of the pairs of driver-bars 52 is disengaged from each carrier to allow the strands to pass. When the strands meet the inclined edges of the deflectors 50 they are caused to ride up above the pointed ends of certain carriers to pass them above the supply-packages S carried thereby and in this way the strands y from the outer supplies are passed alternately over and under the strands y' 'from the inner supplies S to effect the braiding operation. As the core C feeds upwardly through the machine the strands y and y draw across the lower rim of the outer xed annulus H5 and thence across the lower rim of the inner annulus or quill H2;A the relationship between these elements being such that the strands feed into the braid under guidance to restrain the braiding point from rising and to properly position the yarns in the fabric. f..

As themachine thus operates to braid a tubular fabric the strand-manipulator is actuated in the manner as next explained. In general, the strand-manipulator is similar to that disclosed in my prior U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,968,240 of July 3l, 1934, it being noted, however, that in the device of the patent the strands are braided around a central mandrel and the braid pushed off therefrom by means of a reciprocating element actuated in consonance with a reciprocating annulus which lifts or raises the strands to free them from a xed annulus. In the present invention the reciprocating sleeve I I8 acts to press the strands downwardly to free them from the outer fixed annulus I I5 as the crossing points in the strands approach and pass by the latter. The reciprocating annulus H8 is then raised above the strands again to prevent the crosses from contacting therewith; it being noted that each of the annuli has a convexed or rounded rim presenting a minimum extent of surface for contact with the strands. Then as the crosses pass the rim of the reciprocating annulus H8 without contact therewith and approach the rim of the inner fixed annulus or quill II2 the sleeve H8 is again moved downwardly to 'disengage the crossing points of the strands from the inner annulus. In other words the reciprocating sleeve I I8 is operated at a rapid rate and in timed synchronism with the braiding operation to alternately depress the crossing strands away from rstthe outer annulus H5 and then the inner annulus H2.

As before indicated, the strand-manipulator is actuated from the braiding mechanism, the gear 85 being driven from the ring-gears 1I and 'I3 on the heads 4 and 5, respectively. The gear 86 is fast on and rotates the shaft 85 which, in turn, drives the vertical shaft 90 through the gears 81 and 88. The vertical shaft 90 transmits rotation through the gears |01 and |08 to drive the upper horizontal shaft |06 which carries the eccentric disk |20. The eccentric |20 is thus rotated to oscillate lthe pitman |22 to reciprocate the sleeve H8 connected thereto; the gears being so proportioned as to cause the sleeve to move downward to the position shown in Fig. 3 just before the crossing points in the yarns meet the rims of the outer stationary annulus I I5 and inner annulus II2.

The action of the strand-manipulator will best be understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the present drawings taken in connection with the more or less diagrammatic views, Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive. Fig. 2 illustrates the reciprocating sleeve l i3, which for convenience may be termed the pusher, in raised position in relation to the lower rims of the fixed annuli H and H2. At this stage in the operation of the braiding machine the strands 'y and y cross each other at points :r outwardly beyond the rim of the annulus l l5, as indicated in Fig. 4. New, as the pusher H8 is carried downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 the strands are pressed away from the annulus I l 5 so that the crosses x may pass thereby without hindrance. Then, as the crossing points fr in the strands advance toward the rim of the pusher l i8 as shown in Fig. 5 the pusher is withdrawn upwardly to allow free passage of the crosses across its rim in the manner indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The strands will then contact once more with the lower rims of the outer fixed annulus M5 and inner xed annulus H2, but as the crosses :c in the strands approach the inner annulus the pusher descends again to relieve the contact of the strands with the rim of the latter so as to avoid any impedance to their passage into the braiding fabric. In this way the passage of the strands into the fabric is made much easier and freer and any knots or enlargements occurring on the yarns are prevented from catching to impede their progress into the braid to cause irregularities and faults in the fabric. It will be understood that the reciprocation of the pusher H3 is very rapid so that the strands have onli7 a relatively short period of contact with the rims of the several annuli; that is, they touch lightly first on the xed annuli H5 and H2, as shown in Fig. 2, are then pressed downwardly away therefrom by the rim of the pusher H8 and then released from the latter to again contact with the fixed annuli, and so on in rapid repetition. The strands are thus kept practically continuously in motion with a vibratory action which clears the crosses from the several annuli to prevent any hindrance thereto in their progress into the fabric.

Particularly important is the provision of means for determining the braiding point at which the strands enmesh in the fabric. Without such pro-vision the braiding point would tend to move upwardly in the direction of feed of the braided fabric so that the strands from the outer set of supplies S could not be passed luider the carriers for the inner supplies S. Stated another way, the yarns would lead upwardly at such a sharp angle to the axis of the machine that the strands from the outer set could not be deected under the supplies S' and properly enmeshed in the fabric.

It will be observed from the foregoing that my invention provides a highly efficient machine for fabricating tubular coverings for wire and other types of cores, or for producing a tubular braid such as sleeving; the function of the strand-manipulator being to maintain the yarns leading from their supplies in proper relationship both as regards the two opposite sets of strands and with respect to the braid being produced. The outer fixed annulus across the rim of which the strands draw controls the relationship of the strands as hose from the outer supplies pass over and under the inner supplies, thus maintaining the braiding point in a substantially mean position with respect to the raised and lowered positions of the strands y as they pass respectively over and under the inner supplies. It may be said that this establishes a false braiding point, as ordinarily the braiding point would tend to rise and this would cause the strands to feed into the fabric with too sharp a pitch or lead besides interfering with the passage of the strands from the outer set in under the supplies of the inner set. It is to be understood, therefore, that the establishment of the braiding point in the manner described is absolutely essential to the production of a perfect fabric and, in addition, the strandmanipulator is essential in order that the crosses in the strands may not catch and drag o-ver the iixed elements which determine the position of the braiding point.

It is believed that the present invention is broadly new in its application of the controlling means and strand-manipulator to the present typ: of at point above the braiding mechanism and in such relation to the supplies as to depress the yarns to free them from the controlling means. The invention also contemplates a novel arrangement of drive for the strand-manipulator connected for actuation from the braiding mechanism of the basic machine.

While the invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction and applied to a particular type of machine, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the device and in its application to use without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a braiding machine, the combination of a plurality of sets of supplies adapted to be traveled about the axis of the machine in concentric paths located in substantially the same horizontal plane, means for traveling said sets of supplies in opposite directions, driving mechanism for said means, a xed annular element arranged axially of the machine above the path of the supplies and so constructed and arranged as to direct the yarns from one set of supplies in a path substantially perpendicular to the axis of the machine, an annular element reciprocable with respect to the xed annular element to cause it to press the yarns downwardly to free them therefrom, means for reciprocating said second annular element, and means connected with the driving mechanism of the machine and located outwardly beyond the path of travel of the supplies for actuating said reciprocating means from the driving mechanism of the machine.

2. In a braiding machine, the combination of outer and inner sets of supplies arranged in substantially the same horizontal plane, means for revolving said supplies in opposite directions about the axis of the machine, driving mechanism therefor, means for interlacing the strands from the supplies tol form a braid, an annular element disposed axially of the machine with its lower rim substantially in alinement with the mean path of the yarns leading from the outer supplies over and under the inner supplies, said element so constructed and arranged as to engage the yarns adjacent the braiding point to maintain the yarns from the inner set of supplies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the machine, a second annular element within and concentric of the rst annular element, a third reciprocable annular element disposed between the outer and inner xed elements, transmission means located outwardly beyond the path of travel of the supplies and connected to the driving mechanism of the machine and means actuated by said transmission means to reciprocate the third element during the braiding operation to periodically press the strands downwardly away from the fixed elements.

3. In a braiding machine, the combination of a base, driving mechanism in said base, means actuated from said driving mechanism for revolving a plurality of sets of supplies about the axis of the machine, means for manipulating thev strands from the outer set of supplies to pass them over and under the supplies of the inner set to interlace them in the braid, a hollow casing arranged axially above the machine, a standard extending upwardly from the base of the machine and located radially outward from` the path of the supplies, means on said standard to support said casing from the base of the machine, a fixed annular member in said casing across the rim of which the strands draw to establish the braiding point in a plane coincident with the horizontal path oi the yarns feeding from the inner set of supplies, a second reciprocable annular member disposed concentrically within the fixed member, means for reciprocating the reciprocable member, and transrmssion elements supported by the standard outwardly beyond the path of travel of the supplies and driven from the driving mechanism in the base of the machine to actuate the reciprocating means to cause it to intermittently depress the strands leading through the xed annular member to relieve'them from contact therewith.

4. In a braiding machine, the combination of a base, heads rotatable in opposite directions on the base, driving means for rotating said heads, two sets of yarn supplies carried on said heads and revolvable thereby in opposite directions about the axis of the machine, means for manipulating the strands from one set of supplies to pass them over and under the supplies of the other set, a standard at one side of the machine, an arm reaching inwardly from said standard above the center of the machine, a xed annulus supported from said standard concentrically of the axis of l the braid, a second annulus arranged within the irst annulus, a third annulus reciprocable with respect to the two xed annuli, means for reciprocating said third annulus, shafting carried by the standard for actuating the reciprocating means, and gearing connecting said shafting to be driven from the rotating heads of the machine.

5. In a braiding machine of the flat type, the combination of a base having means for supporting two sets of yarn supplies to adapt them to travel at the same level in concentric orbits, means for traveling said supplies in opposite directions about the axis of the machine, driving means therefor in the base of the machine, means for manipulating the yarns from said supplies to enmesh them in a braid, means to feed the braid from the machine axially thereof, an an nular member supported from the base of the machine and so constructed and arranged as to adapt the yarns to draw therethrough in engagement with its rim with the path of the yarns from the inner set of supplies controlled to maintain it in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the machine, a second annular member reciprocable with respect to the first member and so constructed and arranged as to engage the yarns drawing across the rim of the irst member, transmission means located outwardly beyond the path of travel of the supplies and driven by the driving mechanism in the base of the machine, and means driven from said transmission means to reciprocate said second annular member to periodically press the yarns downwardly away from the rim of the rst member.

6. In a braiding machine of the flat type, the combination of a base, means on the base for supporting two sets of yarn supplies arranged concentrically in substantially the same horizontal plane, means for traveling the two sets of supplies in opposite directions about the axis of the machine, driving mechanism therefor in the base of the machine, a standard supported from the base of the machine outwardly beyond the path of travel of the supplies, an annular member supported from said standard concentric with the axis of the machine to adapt the strands of yarn to draw therethrough to regulate the braiding point, said annular member being so constructed and arranged as to engage the yarns leading from the supplies to maintain the yarns from the inner set in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the machine, a second annular member arranged concentrically of and reciprocable with respect to the rst member, transmission means supported from the standard and driven from the driving mechanism in the base, and means actuated by said transmission means to reciprocate said second member to press the yarns downwardly to release them from the rim of the rst member.

7. In a braiding machine of the flat type, the combination of a base, means mounted on the base and adapted to support two sets of yarn supplies arranged in concentric relationship in substantially the same plane, means for interlacing the strands from one set of supplies to vpass them over and under the supplies of the other set to enmesh them in a braid, a standard rising from the base and located outwardly beyond the path of travel of the supplies, an annulus supported from said standard concentric with the axis of the machine, said annulus so constructed and arranged as to adapt the yarns from the supplies to draw therethrough. and to maintain the yarns from the inner set of supplies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the machine, a second annulus reciprocable with respect to the rst annulus, means for reciprocating the second annulus to cause it to press the strands downwardly to release them from the rim of the first annulus, driving mechanism for the machine, and transmission means supported from the standard and driven from the driving means of the machine to actuate the reciprocating means.

WILLARD W. BARDSLEY. 

